Awareness, creativity & happy 21st C living

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Creative Exploration

Give a 5-year-old a pen and paper and ask them to scribble, draw, write with expression; you may get half way towards authentic creativity.

Give someone who has never experienced television, media and Western 21st Century living something to inscribe onto natural materials with, ask them to use it; you may get two-thirds of the way towards an expression of truly creative freedom.

Give me a pencil, a pad, a moment to scribble; you may get 1/10 of the way towards an expression of real creative freedom.

Nietzsche regarded the free spirit as an individual, one of very few, who by non-traditional means avoided any conventional ties to pre-determined belief systems. Critical assertion towards all belief systems (for that matter and for bloggings’ sake let’s say systems in general) is essential to freedom. True freedom. According to Nietzsche.

Rod Judkins recently released the wonderful smart thinking book The Art of Creativity, guiding its readers in the direction of discovering their innate creativity, the source of great things that lies in each of us that we are, at times, afraid to unleash or whole-heartedly follow. By observing that any true great must carve their own path, work without a rulebook and the comfort of a guide or mentor, Judkins asserts the wonder of the unknown, the art of making mistakes and the beauty of determination. Making concise observations of creations that defied the rules and logic of society, Judkins justifies this premise well. Examples of The Guggenheim, designed by a non-architect; Branson’s business that followed a strategy devoid of the knowledge of ‘net-profit’ and Hitchcock’s ability to create ‘suspense’ occurring only after he was 50 are enough to inspire the apprehensive creative to carry on. Some can never rely on guides, timelines and others assertion if they are truly able to create something new.

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‘Being playful is what enables us to develop.’ Rod Judkins

Steiner’s The Philosophy of Freedom takes the idea of being ‘free’ to a philosophical level of debate, which can bamboozle even the superbly intellectual at times, it can most certainly confuse this head. But his analysis of how much our actions are governed by instincts and natural law, brings a valid point of discussion forward regarding human freedom. There are yogis who note that the desire to eat, sleep and have sex can all be controlled and even disappear with mind over matter and a great deal of skilled meditation techniques. With instinct, upbringing and social conditioning impacting our every move and thought, are we ever really free? That is a big discussion for a different time, but a point of consideration worth noting. Creativity is increasingly tapered and directed in specific ways the older we get, which can, of course, lead to receiving great inspiration from peers and finding new discoveries. Yet a child appears to fear discovery far less than the adult; they often relish it far more whole-heartedly.

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‘Is the human being in his thinking and acting spiritually free or is he compelled by the iron necessity of purely natural law?’ Rudolf Steiner

Robert Green notes the path to mastery involves three main stages, to begin with to follow is helpful. We begin as the apprentice, shadowing, the second stage is the acquisition of skills. initially we are a bystander, then we begin to act, to engage in trial and error. Still not acting in our own right, but via the rules of another and under guidance. After this creative imagination comes into play for the second-to-third stage, when we experiment alone, reaping the rewards and learning from the trials of error and creatively problem solely independently, or in teams to create new solutions. Finally, we are there, reaching the level of mastery. That is when we are a true creative, setting an example to follow, establishing a trusted system and plan that another must break free from in order to ascertain their freedom.

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When we follow we get results but the results are limited, they ultimately can be singled down to one; another’s approval. Approval is for the submissive, the child (and not all) or those who wish to support, follow or ideally learn. There is not a thing wrong with these roles. But should you wish to go your own way, approval soon becomes secondary to results, the feeling of satisfaction you discover when something sets you ever more firmly on the path which you have carved with home-made tools. This needs no approval or recognition. The rewards of this speak for itself. You feel them, you dream them, you are them.

In Frankl’s Man’s Search For Meaning he suggests the moral imperative of everything that we do. This is equally essential to being unique, authentic and inspirational. Sociability and humanistic qualities lie at our core, very few do much without the help of others. Without support, love, and added strength of friends and a team we are a lot less powerful and influential. Creating true support sets others on their own path of discovery too, creating a team and workforce that are liberated to do something that they love, inspired by you, with their ownership in their way reaps the greatest rewards. People go above and beyond for personal motives, passion, after all, knows no bounds.

It may be wise to ask oneself from time to time, are you following your aim, your creative streak, your dreams and passions or another’s? Does your outlook confine your actions or liberate them? Do your habits, be them eating, shopping (my ultimate weakness) or another inhibit your true self expression and the fruition of your passionate desires?

“Don’t think about why you question, simply don’t stop questioning. Don’t worry about what you can’t answer, and don’t try to explain what you can’t know. Curiosity is its own reason. Aren’t you in awe when you contemplate the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure behind reality? And this is the miracle of the human mind—to use its constructions, concepts, and formulas as tools to explain what man sees, feels and touches. Try to comprehend a little more each day. Have holy curiosity.”